asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the United Kingdom farming industry's percentage share of total United Kingdom beef consumption in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the percentage shown in 1967.

Home fed cattle (including imported stores) are estimated to have provided 73·3, 69·7 and 72·1 per cent. of total beef and veal supplies in June-May, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 respectively and are forecast to provide 74·1 per cent. in 1966–67. The figures on which these percentages are based exclude cattle exported for slaughter; full details are given in the White Paper on the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantee 1967, Cmnd. 3229 (Table D, Appendix 1).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the percentage change in the value and volume of United Kingdom beef production in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the percentage change in 1967.

Estimates of the quantity and value of beef and veal output from agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom for June-May years are as follows:

	Quantity ('000 tons)	Per cent. Change	Value (£m.)	Per cent. Change
1963/64	971	—	270·8	—
1964/65	878	-9·6	266·1	-1·7
1965/66 (Provisional)	884	+0·7	271·8	+2·1
1966/67 (Forecast)	915	+3·5	274·5	+1·0

These figures represent the total output of all fat cattle, cows and calves and include both cattle slaughtered in the United Kingdom and those exported for slaughter abroad.

asked the Attorney-General what proposals he has to make arrears of maintenance provable in bankruptcy proceedings.

This matter will be considered by the Law Commission as part of the study they are presently making of financial relief in matrimonial proceedings.

asked the Attorney-General what further investigations he has made into the introduction of computers in Her Majesty's Land Registry.

It is hoped that computers will process Land Registry statistics by the end of 1967 and the pay-roll in 1968. A preliminary study has been made of an automatic data-processing system for the work of the Land Charges and Agricultural Credits Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that the India Office library is adequately protected against fire; and if he will state the exact nature of such protection.

Yes. But existing accommodation is not as satisfactory as it might be, and we are moving the Library into a modern new building in a few months' time. The existing precautions include the provision of firefighting equipment, patrolling, and an alarm system.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the discovery of restricted documents referring to a defence project in Buckburn, Aberdeenshire, following a fire at a local paper mill; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the procedure for the destruction of restricted and classified material to ensure there can be no repetition of such incidents.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will inform the House of the outcome of his inquiries into the circumstances in which classified waste from his Department was unsupervised while awaiting pulping at Aberdeen and thus came to be scattered.

A small number of pages of a document marked "restricted" were found by members of the public at Buck-burn, Aberdeenshire, and handed over to the police. The circumstances under which these papers were found are being investigated, and I will consider making a further statement when the investigations are completed.The existing methods for the disposal of classified waste are already under review, and account will be taken of the outcome of the current investigations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Howard-English report made to him on Service Colleges.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the national expenditure on schools in each of the last 10 years has been spent in York.

The information is as follows:

Current expenditure by York County Borough on nursery, primary, secondary and special schools as a proportion of such expenditure by all local education authorities in England and Wales.
Financial Year	Percentage
1956–57	0·253
1957–58	0·246
1958–59	0·245
1959–60	0·246
1960–61	0·242
1961–62	0·238
1962–63	0·236
1963–64	0·234
1964–65	0·236
1965–66	0·231

NOTES:1. Loan charges, capital expenditure from revenue and expenditure on school transport, maintenance allowances and school meals and milk are excluded.2. The decline in York's share of total expenditure has been slightly less marked than the decline in its share of the total school population. Both in 1955–56 and in 1965–66 expenditure per pupil in York was higher than the average for county boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give details of the consultations he had with the University Grants Committee which led to that Committee agreeing to the increase in fees charged in British universities and colleges to overseas students.

It is not the practice to disclose details of the advice which is given to the Government by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which of the Outer London boroughs have now agreed their comprehensive secondary educational schemes with his Department.

Proposals covering the whole of the areas of the London Boroughs of Brent, Enfield, Haringey and Merton have now been approved in principle. Proposals covering parts of the areas of the London Boroughs of Bexley and Ealing have been similarly approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many residential places exist for students in colleges of further education and in the former colleges of advanced technology now designated universities; what plans he has to extend such facilities; how many places will be provided by 1970; and what proportion of the expected full-time student population in further education can expect to have accommodation provided.

In 1965–66 there were 3,717 students in residence in former Colleges of Advanced Technology in England and Wales and some 4,800 residential places in grant-aided establishments of further education. The latter figure is likely to rise to over 8,000 places by 1970 through the completion of projects in building programmes already approved. This will be a small proportion of total numbers but it should be borne in mind that a high proportion of full-time students in further education, the majority of whom are of school age, live at home.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to provide student accommodation in the proposed polytechnics which he has designated.

Some of the proposed polytechnics already have residential provision for students, and this will be increased in the light of the needs as far as resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of children proceeding to some form of higher education from Inner London Education Authority comprehensive schools; and how this compares with the proportion for England and Wales as a whole.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total of the school building programme approved for the Inner London Education Authority in the years 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67; and what is the total approved for the year 1967–68.

The following are the figures:

	Major Programme	Minor Programme	Total
	£	£	£
1964–65	1,016,210	500,000	1,516,210
1965–66	3,080,235	950,000	4,030,235
1966–67	3,291,029	1,100,000	4,391,029
1967–68	3,646.633	1,000,000	4,646,633

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances official classified waste is pulped; what steps are taken to safeguard it until the process is complete; and if he will make a statement.

Where Departments find it impracticable to destroy their classified waste themselves they can use the special arrangements which are made by the Stationery Office. Under these arrangements, waste classified confidential and above is collected in sealed bags and conveyed in locked vans which are driven and accompanied by Stationery Office staff, and it is never out of their hands until it is actually pulped or burned. Waste which is classified as restricted is collected in sealed bags and conveyed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works vans to contractors for shredding under the direct supervision of Stationery Office staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received with regard to the effect of the Selective Employment Tax on coastal resorts and other areas where the main industries are service industries; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters from hon. Members and from the public about this and other aspects of the operation of the Selective Employment Tax. I must ask the hon. Member to await the Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many projects for regional centres of Government Departments have been authorised by the Treasury; and how many have been assigned to York.

About 30 separate blocks of Government work, including one or two small departments in their entirety either have been moved away from London or are the subject of firm plans to move. None of these will be located in York.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affais if he will list all the orders he has signed freezing wages under the Prices and Incomes Act indi- cating in each case and in total the number of persons covered, the weekly and annual sums involved and expressing the proposed increase as a percentage against present wages.

A list of Orders restricting pay increases is set out below, including estimates of the number of

Title of Order	Approximate number of Persons affected	Proposed increased expressed as a percentage of present basic wage where known
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 1) Order 1966	200	5 per cent.
Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd.
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 2) Order 1966	25,500	(2s. Cost of living increase.)
National Newspapers
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (No. 1) Order 1966	Up to 56	20 per cent. increase on payment for hot work
Rockware Glass
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (No. 2) Order 1966	49	Averaging 11 per cent, to 12 per cent.
Metropolitan Police Draughtsmen
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (No. 3) Order 1966	2,000	Averaging 3 per cent.
Printing Ink Industry
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 1) Order 1967	150	Approximately 8 per cent.
J. Hanger & Co. Ltd.
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 2) Order 1967	500	Between 4 to 5 per cent, on basic hourly rate
Denby Pottery
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 3) Order 1967	20	(34s. 6d. per week increase and 1 hour reduction)
Crown Bedding
The Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July, 1966 levels) (No. 4) Order 1967	400	8 to 10 per cent.
Press Association Ltd., and Exchange Telegraph

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now make a statement on the policy to be pursued with regard to profits and dividends following the period of severe restraint.

As indicated in the Answer I gave to similar Questions yesterday my right honourable Friend will be making a statement about future prices and incomes policy before the Easter Recess.—[Vol. 743, c. 702–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of monkeys, parrots and other animals as props by street photographers.

I am not aware of the need for such a prohibition.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of the national expenditure on the welfare services under his Department in each of the last 10 years has been spent in York.

None of the services for which my right hon. Friend is responsible is normally described as a welfare service. If my hon. Friend will let me know what he has in mind, I will do my best to help him.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the future of Stansted Airport before the House adjourns for Easter.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give details of the concessions made to the deputation from Bracknell Labour Party, when they were seen recently by his Parliamentary Secretary, in order to protest against the proposed increase of rents in Bracknell New Town.

The deputation expressed to me the concern of tenants at the rent increases in prospect. It was explained to them that the Development Corporation proposed to introduce a rent rebate scheme to meet any case of hardship; and they were made aware of the generous subsidies to be provided under the Housing Subsidies Bill.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what financial contribution the local universities are making towards the experimental local radio stations in Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester, respectively;(2) what financial contribution the chambers or trade and commerce of Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester are making towards the experimental local radio station in their area;(3) what financial contribution the local councils of churches of Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester are making towards the experimental local radio station in their area;(4) what financial contributions towards the cost of the experimental local radio stations in Liverpool, Sheffield and Leicester are being made by arts associations and other representative bodies active in the social and cultural life of the community; and whether he will give a list of these;(5) from what sources the money needed for the first three experimental local radio stations will come.

The B.B.C. have been authorised to undertake the nine-station experiment on the basis that the cost should so far as possible be met from local sources; and I understand from the Corporation that this requirement will be positively and substantially satisfied. Part of the purpose of the experiment is to establish what local financial support would be forthcoming for any general and permanent service that might be decided on after the experiment had run its course; and in the meantime it will be one of the functions of the Local Broadcasting Councils to foster such support.

asked the Postmaster-General what financial arrangements have been made with the three local authorities who are participating in the local sound radio experiment.

The B.B.C. have been authorised to undertake the nine-station experiment on the basis that the cost should so far as possible be met from local sources; and I understand from the Corporation that this requirement will be positively and substantially satisfied. Part of the purpose of the experiment is to establish what local financial support would be forthcoming for any general and permanent service that might be decided on after the experiment had run its course; and in the meantime it will be one of the functions of the Local Broadcasting Councils to foster such support.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the local authorities to which invitations to participate in the local radio experiment were sent by his Department.

No invitations were sent by my Department.

asked the Postmaster-General how many people are employed by his Department from the county of Midlothian, giving male and female employees separately; and what is the total sum paid in salaries and wages.

The information as to how many staff in the Post Office come from the county of Midlothian is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. However, we employ now in the county of Midlothian (excluding the City of Edinburgh) about 180 men and 60 women at an estimated annual cost in salaries and wages of about £125,000. In Edinburgh the respective figures are 4,600 men, 1,700 women and £6 million a year.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage, in terms of monetary value, of the contracts for exchange equipment for the year 1966–67 are now overdue.

The shortfall in payments by the Post Office to the manufacturers, due to delay on contracts for provision of equipment during 1966–67, is at present 33 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General why the allowance is made for a wireless licence to be converted to a television licence; why no repayment is allowed for the reverse process; and what proposals he has for altering this.

The two forms of licence in question are the sound only licence, and the combined television and sound licence. The general policy whereby no refund is paid when a set is no longer used applies in respect of both forms of licence. A person who, having an extant sound only licence, takes out a combined licence, is not required to pay again for the unexpired term of the sound only licence; and the charge for the combined licence is abated accordingly. A person who, having a combined licence, chooses not to use television, does not need to take out a sound only licence. I can see no inconsistency in these arrangements and have no proposals for altering them.

asked the Postmaster-General how many persons are at the latest date on the waiting list for telephones in each telephone area in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what proportion this bears to the total number of subscribers in each area.

The figures, as at the 31st December, 1966 are as follows:

Telephone area	Waiting list	Waiting list as a percentage of telephone connections
Aberdeen	123	0·17
Bedford	4,689	5·79
Belfast	1,143	1·04
Birmingham	11,675	6·01
Blackburn	39	0·05
Bournemouth	684	0·81
Bradford	180	0·17
Brighton	231	0·15
Bristol	770	0·57
Cambridge	1,380	1·59
Canterbury	4,637	5·00
Cardiff	795	0·73
Chester	1,070	1·53
Colchester	659	0·99
Coventry	4,431	4·60
Dundee	8	0·02
Edinburgh	1,101	0·86
Exeter	404	0·55
Glasgow	2,558	1·13
Gloucester	844	1·31
Guildford	2,141	2·36
Lancaster	96	0·17
Leeds	1,724	1·50
Leicester	331	0·31
Lincoln	365	0·53
Liverpool	2,096	0·94
London Centre	—	—
London City	1,393	1·80
London East	11,143	4·92
London North	3,925	1·69
London North Central	618	1·10
London North West	1,567	0·61
London South	3,164	1·77
London South East	6,989	2·72
London South West	5,949	3·06
London West	4,026	1·51
Manchester	9,029	3·27
Middlesbrough	1,003	1·46
Newcastle	2,066	1·56
Norwich	525	0·95
Nottingham	844	0·65
Oxford	1,101	1·23
Peterborough	105	0·20
Plymouth	483	0·67
Portsmouth	1,236	1·48
Preston	249	0·24
Reading	2,181	1·89
Scotland West	4,111	3·39
Sheffield	1,797	1·84
Shrewsbury	22	0·04
Southampton	1,551	2·09
Southend	5,407	6·06
Stoke	931	1·53
Swansea	492	0·90
Taunton	288	0·58
Tunbridge Wells	11	0·01
West Midland	5,280	4·27
York	8	0·01

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the activity rates for males, females, and total employees in Scotland and in Great Britain, respectively, in 1965 and 1966; and what estimate he has made of such rates for 1967 and 1968.

I have been asked to reply. The estimated numbers of employees, expressed as percentages of the estimated home population aged 15 and over, are:

	Great Britain
	Males	Females	Total
1965	76·8	39·9	57·5
1966	76·2	40·5	57·6

	Scotland
	Males	Females	Total
1965	76·2	39·6	56·8
1966	76·0	40·3	57·0

Owing to demographic changes in the age-structure of the population, the overall activity rate for males aged 15 and over is likely to decline slowly, as in Great Britain. The current higher level of unemployment will also tend to lower activity rates. At this stage, I am not prepared to give estimates for 1967 and 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail the percentage compound growth rate per annum of production, employment and output per head between 1st January, 1965 and the latest available date for all production industries in Scotland and for each of the categories of industry analysed in Table A on page 8 of Command Paper No. 2864, The Scottish Economy, 1965–70.

Estimates of employees in employment in Scotland, broken down into sectors, are available only once a year. Accordingly changes in these and crude calculations of output per head can be made only on an annual basis. The index of production for the calender year 1966 is not yet available, and the figures below give the percentage changes between 1964 and 1965.

	Production* per cent.	Employment† per cent.	Output per head‡ per cent.
All index of Production industries	4·0	2·3	1·7
Manufacturing industries	4·6	3·0	1·6
Construction	1·3	2·5	-1·1
Gas, electricity and water	8·6	1·5	7·0
Mining and quarrying	-3·3	-5·1	1·9

NOTES:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress has been made to date towards the achievements of the target of 50,000 additional jobs in manufacturing industry, 20,000 additional jobs in the construction industry, and 60,000 additional jobs in the service industries in Scotland by 1970 as set out in Command Paper No. 2864;(2) what progress has been made to date towards the achievement of the target for 50,000 to 60,000 new additional jobs in Scotland by 1970, as set out in Command Paper No. 2864.

Between mid-1964 and mid-1966 (the latest date for which detailed statistics are available) the gains in employment in expanding sectors are estimated to have been 53,000, 10,000 and 38,000, respectively, in manufacturing industry, the construction industry and the service industries. After taking account of losses in these sectors and in primary industry in the same period, the total net increase in the number of workers in employment was 21,000. This compares with the 50–60,000 net increase in employment between 1964 and 1970 mentioned in Command 2864.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he took to inform himself of the businesses with which members of the Highland Development Board were connected immediately before their appointments; what these businesses were; what were the dates on which the Board members were appointed and the dates on which they relinquished their business interests; what are the present business interests of members of the Board; and what applications have been received from such businesses for grants or assistance in any form from the Board.

I was, of course, well aware of the general business interests of the members of the Board before I appointed them but I do not think it would be relevant or proper for me to present a detailed list of their business interests, since there are provisions in the Highlands and Islands Development Act governing the conduct of members where they have an interest in any matter coming before the Board and I am satisfied that these provisions have been strictly observed. The current appointments to the Board date from 1st November, 1965, with the exception of that of Mr. F. G. Thomson, which is dated 7th March, 1966.As regards the last part of the Question, information about assistance in individual cases is treated by the Board as confidential, but I can say that the Board has offered assistance totalling £38,187 for projects by four concerns in respect of which declarations of interest were made by one or other of three members. If I obtain the consent of the businesses concerned I will let the hon. Member have information about the assistance given in these cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he accepts the recommendations for improving the safety of passengers at sea, contained in the Darlwyne Report; and what further legislative and administrative actions he proposes to take to carry them out.

These recommendations are being carefully studied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value to the motor industry of exports to the Scandinavian partners in the European Free Trade Association.

The following is the information:

Exports in 1966 of motor vehicles (including motor cycles and tractors) and parts; and of internal combustion piston engines and parts thereof for motor vehicles:

Exports to:	£ million
Finland	19·1
Sweden	36·6
Norway	12·2
Denmark	26·5

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the third London airport before the House adjourns for Easter.

No, but I hope that we shall be able to make an announcement soon after the Recess.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of secondhand agricultural machinery in each of the last five years; and what were the individual totals sent to each country during the latest convenient 12-month period.

The only figures available relate to exports of used agricultural tractors for the years 1963–1966 as follows:

	£ thousand
1963	2,797
1964	3,235
1965	2,770
1966	3,154
of which
New Zealand	61
Irish Republic	451
Sweden	189
Norway	69
Denmark	928
Netherlands	550
Belgium	118
France	446
U.S.A	126
Other countries	216

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to establish a national policy for the siting of airports.

The present pattern of airports, if not ideal, is generally adequate by spread, capacity and indeed potential for development. With the advice of the Regional Economic Planning Councils, I keep this pattern under continuous review, in order on the one hand to encourage the development of existing airports and, when appropriate, of new ones, and on the other, to prevent wasteful development.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the management of Southampton Airport relating to the application to extend the airport runway by approximately 1,000 feet; and what reply he has sent.

Southampton Airport Limited have asked the Board of Trade for technical advice only on their proposals for a runway extension scheme and associated works. A reply has not yet been sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to give the cotton industry an opportunity to plan its future output, he will state the permissible yardage of imports for each group of textile products.

The industry has been kept fully informed of the quantities of imports of all types of cotton textiles which will be admitted from restricted countries up to the end of 1970.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what help he is proposing to give to those areas outside the development areas whose unemployment figure is regularly more than 3 per cent. above the national average.

In so far as industrial development is concerned, the problems of those localities whose unemployment figures are well above the national average, but whose circumstances do not justify designation as a development area, can best be met through a liberal use of industrial development certificates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that over the last three years United Kingdom imports from Canada were more than double the United Kingdom exports to Canada; and what action he proposes to take to redress this adverse balance of trade.

Imports (c.i.f.) from Canada in 1966 fell to £425 million from £458 million in 1964 and 1965. Exports and re-exports (f.o.b.) to Canada have been steadily rising—£194 million in 1964, £208 million in 1965 and £223 million in 1966. Thus the deficit fell from £264 million in 1964 to £202 million in 1966.We are engaged in an intensive export promotion drive towards Canada, which reaches a culmination this year with three major British trade manifestations, including a full scale British week in Toronto in October. I hope that a further increase in our exports to Canada will be achieved this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of imports from Canada is subject to United Kingdom import duties; and what percentage of United Kingdom exports to Canada is subject to Canadian import duties.

About 4 per cent. and 33 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if in addition to setting up the Textile Council Imports Commission, he will increase the scope and amount of Government aid to the textile industry and encourage production in the industry by promoting an official campaign urging the public to buy British and Lancashire textile products thus alleviating the consequences of the recession in the textile industry.

I am giving all the aid I can to the industry; and I see no reason why the industry itself should not sponsor such a campaign.

asked the Ministry of Transport what proportion of the national expenditure on roads in each of the last 10 years has been spent in York.

Expenditure on roads in York, which represent 0·08 per cent. of the total mileage in Great Britain, has amounted to the following percentages of national expenditure:

Financial year	Percentage
1956–57	0·14
1957–58	0·13
1958–59	0·11
1959–60	0·11
1960–61	0·10
1961–62	0·10
1962–63	0·11
1963–64	0·12
1964–65	0·08
1965–66	0·08

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for container traffic involving the port of Fleetwood.

The introduction of container traffic is a matter for the transport operators, whilst the development of port facilities at Fleetwood is the responsibility of the British Transport Docks Board. I understand that there are at present no plans for container traffic at that port.